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{{Short description|Hand fans used in warfare in feudal Japan}}
⚫ ]
{{redirect|Iron Fan|the Journey to the West character|Princess Iron Fan}}
⚫ ] gunsen war fan, made of iron, bamboo and lacquer depicting the sun (1800–1850) on display at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California]]


The '''Japanese war fan''', or '''''tessen''''' ({{langx|ja|鉄扇,てっせん|tessen|translation="iron fan"}}), is a Japanese ] used as a weapon or for signalling. Several types of war fans were used by the ] class of ] and each had a different look and purpose.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Mol|first=Serge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&pg=PA81|title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts|date=2003|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2941-6|pages=81–87|language=en}}</ref>
A '''war fan''' is a ] designed for use in ]fare. Several types of war fans were used by the ] class of ].


==Description== ==Description==
War fans varied in size, materials, shape and use. One of the most significant uses was as a signalling device.<ref name=handbook>William E. Deal, ''Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan'', p.167</ref> Signalling fans came in two varieties: War fans varied in size, materials, shape, and use. One of the most significant uses was as a signalling device.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Deal|first=William E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0ni1NmbYe0C&pg=PA167|title=Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan|date=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533126-4|pages=167|language=en}}</ref> Signalling fans came in two varieties:
* a real fan that has wood or metal ribs with lacquered paper attached to the ribs and a metal outer cover * a folding fan that has wood or metal ribs with lacquered paper attached to the ribs and a metal outer cover<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Mol|first=Serge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&pg=PA81|title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts|date=2003|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2941-6|pages=81–87|language=en}}</ref>
* a solid open fan made from metal and or wood, very similar to the '']'' used today by sumo referees.<ref>Louis Frédéric, ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p.267</ref> * a solid open fan made from metal and/or wood, similar to the '']'' used today by sumo referees.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fr?d?ric|first1=Louis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&q=267|title=Japan Encyclopedia|last2=Louis-Frédéric|date=2002|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-01753-5|pages=267|language=en}}</ref>

The commander would raise or lower his fan and point in different ways to issue commands to the soldiers, which would then be passed on by other forms of ].<ref name=secrets>Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook, ''Secrets of the Samurai: A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan'', p.296-304</ref> The commander would raise or lower his fan and point in different ways to issue commands to the soldiers, which would then be passed on by other forms of ].<ref name=secrets>Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook, ''Secrets of the Samurai: A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan'', p.296-304</ref>


''War fans'' could also used as weapons, The art of fighting with war fans is ].<ref name=handbook/> War fans were also made as weapons. The art of fighting with war fans is ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Mol|first=Serge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&pg=PA81|title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts|date=2003|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2941-6|pages=81–87|language=en}}</ref>


==Types of Japanese war fans== ==Types==
], Japan]] ], Japan]]
*''']|軍扇}}''' were folding fans used by the average warriors to cool themselves off. They were made of wood, bronze, brass or a similar metal for the inner spokes, and often used thin iron or other metals for the outer spokes or cover, making them lightweight but strong.<ref name=handbook/> Warriors would hang their fans from a variety of places, most typically from the belt or the breastplate, though the latter often impeded the use of a sword or a bow.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} * '']|軍扇}}'' were folding fans used by the average warriors to cool themselves off. They were made of wood, bronze, brass or a similar metal for the inner spokes, and often used thin iron or other metals for the outer spokes or cover, making them lightweight but strong.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Deal|first=William E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0ni1NmbYe0C&pg=PA167|title=Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan|date=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533126-4|pages=167|language=en}}</ref> Warriors would hang their fans from a variety of places, most typically from the belt or the breastplate, though the latter often impeded the use of a sword or a bow.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}
*''']|鉄扇}}''' were folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which were designed to look like normal, harmless folding fans or solid clubs shaped to look like a closed fan. Samurai could take these to places where swords or other overt weapons were not allowed, and some swordsmanship schools included training in the use of the tessen as a weapon. The tessen was also used for fending off arrows and darts, as a throwing weapon, and as an aid in swimming.<ref name=secrets/> *'']'' were folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which were designed to look like normal, harmless folding fans or solid clubs shaped to look like a closed fan. Samurai could take these to places where swords or other overt weapons were not allowed, and some swordsmanship schools included training in the use of the tessen as a weapon. The tessen was also used for fending off knives and darts, as a throwing weapon, and as an aid in swimming.<ref name="secrets" />
*''']|軍配}}''' were large solid open fans that could be solid iron, metal with wooden core, or solid wood, which were carried by high-ranking officers.<ref>Jōchi Daigaku, JSTOR (Organization), ''Monumenta Nipponica, Volume 16'', p.71-p.73</ref> They were used to ward off arrows, as a sunshade, and to signal to troops.<ref>Karl M. Schwarz, ''Netsuke Subjects: A Study on the NetsukeThemes With Reference to Their Interpretation and Symbolism'', p.116</ref><ref></ref> * '']'' were large solid open fans that could be solid iron, metal with wooden core, or solid wood, which were carried by high-ranking officers.<ref>Jōchi Daigaku, JSTOR (Organization), ''Monumenta Nipponica, Volume 16'', pp. 71–73</ref> They were used to ward off arrows and used as a sunshade or to signal to troops.<ref>Karl M. Schwarz, ''Netsuke Subjects: A Study on the Netsuke Themes with Reference to Their Interpretation and Symbolism'', p. 116</ref><ref>, George Cameron Stone, Courier Dover Publications, 1999, p. 256</ref>


==War fans in history and folklore== ==War fans in history and folklore==
] holds a Japanese war fan which has a symbol of the Japanese sun disc]]
⚫ One particularly famous legend involving war fans concerns a direct confrontation between ] and ] at the ]. Kenshin burst into Shingen's command tent on horseback, having broken through his entire army, and attacked; his sword was deflected by Shingen's war fan. It is not clear whether Shingen parried with a tessen, a dansen uchiwa, or some other form of fan. Nevertheless, it was quite rare for commanders to fight directly, and especially for a general to defend himself so effectively when taken so off-guard.
]
⚫ One particularly famous legend involving war fans concerns a direct confrontation between ] and ] at the ]. Kenshin burst into Shingen's command tent on horseback, having broken through his entire army, and attacked; his sword was deflected by Shingen's war fan. It is not clear whether Shingen parried with a tessen, a dansen uchiwa, or some other form of fan. Nevertheless, it was quite rare for commanders to fight directly, and especially for a general to defend himself so effectively when taken so off-guard.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Mol|first=Serge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&pg=PA81|title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts|date=2003|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2941-6|pages=81–87|language=en}}</ref>


] is said to have defeated the great warrior monk ] with a tessen. ] is said to have defeated the great warrior monk ] with a tessen.


] is said to have used a tessen to save his life when the great warlord ] sought to assassinate him. Araki was invited before Nobunaga, and was stripped of his swords at the entrance to the mansion, as was customary. When he performed the customary bowing at the threshold, Nobunaga intended to have the room's sliding doors slammed shut onto Araki's neck, killing him. However, Araki supposedly placed his tessen in the grooves in the floor, blocking the doors from closing.<ref name=secrets/> ] is said to have used a tessen to save his life when the great warlord ] sought to assassinate him. Araki was invited before Nobunaga, and was stripped of his swords at the entrance to the mansion, as was customary. When he performed the customary bowing at the threshold, Nobunaga intended to have the room's sliding doors slammed shut onto Araki's neck, killing him. However, Araki supposedly placed his tessen in the grooves in the floor, blocking the doors from closing.<ref name=secrets/> His tessen saved his life that day.


The ], sword instructors to the ], included tessenjutsu in their martial arts school, the ]. The ], sword instructors to the ], included tessenjutsu in their martial arts school, the ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Mol|first=Serge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&pg=PA81|title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts|date=2003|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2941-6|pages=81–87|language=en}}</ref>

==War fans outside Japan==
{{see also|Korean fighting fan}}
Fans are also used for offensive and defensive purposes in the ] and ]. They are called "铁扇" (''tiě shàn'', literally "steel fan") in Chinese, and "부채" (''buchae'') in Korean – see ].

==In popular culture==
*''']''', in the series '']'', Takeda Shingen wields a dansen uchiwa in the first game<ref></ref> in '']'', ] also wields a tessen.<ref></ref> War fans are used by the popular video game female ninja characters ] (wooden-paper fans in the '']'' and '']'' series<ref></ref>) and ] (a pair of sharp metal fans in the '']'' series and films<ref></ref>).
*''']''', in the French martial arts action film ] (]) Sylvia (]) uses a War Fan in the climax of the film.
*''']''', ''']''' and ''']''', in series such as '']'' by Kagura<ref></ref>, '']'' by Temari<ref></ref>, Madara Uchiha<ref></ref>, '']'' by Yumi Ishiyama and '']'' by Genjyo Sanzo.
*''']''', in series such as '']'' by Kyoshi Warriors<ref></ref>, and '']'' by Yumi Ishiyama<ref></ref>.


==Gallery== ==Gallery==
<gallery> <gallery>
Image:Tessen fan.JPG|Antique Edo period Japanese (samurai) solid iron tessen fan. File:Tessen fan.JPG|] Japanese (samurai) solid iron tessen fan
Image:Tessen 1.JPG|An iron Japanese tessen fan with wood ribs. File:Tessen 1.JPG|An iron Japanese tessen fan with wood ribs
Image:Gunsen fan.JPG|Antique Edo period Japanese (samurai) gunsen fan with wood ribs and an iron outer cover. File:Gunsen fan.JPG|Edo period Japanese (samurai) gunsen fan with wood ribs and an iron outer cover
Image:Gunbai.JPG|Antique Japanese (samurai) gunbai war fan. Wood and lacquer with shell inlay. File:Gunbai.JPG|Antique Japanese (samurai) gunbai war fan. Wood and lacquer with shell inlay.
File:Minamoto-no-Tametomo-by-Kuniyoshi-Utagawa.png|] with a gunsen fan
</gallery> </gallery>


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}} {{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
*Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, ''Secrets of the Samurai'', Edison, NJ: Castle Books (1973). *Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, ''Secrets of the Samurai'', Edison, NJ: Castle Books (1973).


{{Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:War Fan}}
{{KobudoWeapons}}

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] ]
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Latest revision as of 17:27, 28 October 2024

Hand fans used in warfare in feudal Japan "Iron Fan" redirects here. For the Journey to the West character, see Princess Iron Fan.
Antique Japanese (samurai) Edo period gunsen war fan, made of iron, bamboo and lacquer depicting the sun (1800–1850) on display at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, California

The Japanese war fan, or tessen (Japanese: 鉄扇,てっせん, romanized: tessen, lit. '"iron fan"'), is a Japanese hand fan used as a weapon or for signalling. Several types of war fans were used by the samurai class of feudal Japan and each had a different look and purpose.

Description

War fans varied in size, materials, shape, and use. One of the most significant uses was as a signalling device. Signalling fans came in two varieties:

  • a folding fan that has wood or metal ribs with lacquered paper attached to the ribs and a metal outer cover
  • a solid open fan made from metal and/or wood, similar to the gunbai used today by sumo referees.

The commander would raise or lower his fan and point in different ways to issue commands to the soldiers, which would then be passed on by other forms of visible and audible signalling.

War fans were also made as weapons. The art of fighting with war fans is tessenjutsu.

Types

A tessen (iron fan) on display in Iwakuni Castle, Japan
  • Gunsen (軍扇) were folding fans used by the average warriors to cool themselves off. They were made of wood, bronze, brass or a similar metal for the inner spokes, and often used thin iron or other metals for the outer spokes or cover, making them lightweight but strong. Warriors would hang their fans from a variety of places, most typically from the belt or the breastplate, though the latter often impeded the use of a sword or a bow.
  • Tessen were folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which were designed to look like normal, harmless folding fans or solid clubs shaped to look like a closed fan. Samurai could take these to places where swords or other overt weapons were not allowed, and some swordsmanship schools included training in the use of the tessen as a weapon. The tessen was also used for fending off knives and darts, as a throwing weapon, and as an aid in swimming.
  • Gunbai were large solid open fans that could be solid iron, metal with wooden core, or solid wood, which were carried by high-ranking officers. They were used to ward off arrows and used as a sunshade or to signal to troops.

War fans in history and folklore

Minamoto no Yoshiie holds a Japanese war fan which has a symbol of the Japanese sun disc
Japanese gunsen war fans

One particularly famous legend involving war fans concerns a direct confrontation between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima. Kenshin burst into Shingen's command tent on horseback, having broken through his entire army, and attacked; his sword was deflected by Shingen's war fan. It is not clear whether Shingen parried with a tessen, a dansen uchiwa, or some other form of fan. Nevertheless, it was quite rare for commanders to fight directly, and especially for a general to defend himself so effectively when taken so off-guard.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune is said to have defeated the great warrior monk Saitō Musashibō Benkei with a tessen.

Araki Murashige is said to have used a tessen to save his life when the great warlord Oda Nobunaga sought to assassinate him. Araki was invited before Nobunaga, and was stripped of his swords at the entrance to the mansion, as was customary. When he performed the customary bowing at the threshold, Nobunaga intended to have the room's sliding doors slammed shut onto Araki's neck, killing him. However, Araki supposedly placed his tessen in the grooves in the floor, blocking the doors from closing. His tessen saved his life that day.

The Yagyū clan, sword instructors to the Tokugawa shōguns, included tessenjutsu in their martial arts school, the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.

Gallery

  • Edo period Japanese (samurai) solid iron tessen fan Edo period Japanese (samurai) solid iron tessen fan
  • An iron Japanese tessen fan with wood ribs An iron Japanese tessen fan with wood ribs
  • Edo period Japanese (samurai) gunsen fan with wood ribs and an iron outer cover Edo period Japanese (samurai) gunsen fan with wood ribs and an iron outer cover
  • Antique Japanese (samurai) gunbai war fan. Wood and lacquer with shell inlay. Antique Japanese (samurai) gunbai war fan. Wood and lacquer with shell inlay.
  • Minamoto no Tametomo with a gunsen fan Minamoto no Tametomo with a gunsen fan

See also

References

  1. ^ Mol, Serge (2003). Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts. Kodansha International. pp. 81–87. ISBN 978-4-7700-2941-6.
  2. ^ Deal, William E. (2007). Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-19-533126-4.
  3. Fr?d?ric, Louis; Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  4. ^ Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook, Secrets of the Samurai: A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan, p.296-304
  5. Jōchi Daigaku, JSTOR (Organization), Monumenta Nipponica, Volume 16, pp. 71–73
  6. Karl M. Schwarz, Netsuke Subjects: A Study on the Netsuke Themes with Reference to Their Interpretation and Symbolism, p. 116
  7. A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times, George Cameron Stone, Courier Dover Publications, 1999, p. 256

Sources

  • Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, Secrets of the Samurai, Edison, NJ: Castle Books (1973).
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